Saks Fifth Avenue’s Key to the Cure Kick-Off Gala was held on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 to celebrate the annual fundraiser for cancer research. During Key to the Cure New Orleans, held that Thursday-Sunday, 2 percent of sales at Saks Fifth Avenue New Orleans were given to the Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium – a research partnership between Tulane Cancer Center, Louisiana State University’s Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center and Xavier University of Louisiana. The idea is to bring a NCI-Designated Cancer Center to New Orleans. The past 10 years of Key to the Cure have raised $780,000 for cancer research in New Orleans.
With large support from community leaders on the Key to the Cure Committee, the Kick-Off Gala was held at Canal Place. Smartly dressed attendees enjoyed a different course on each one of the three levels of the venue. Some samplings included Turtle Soup from Commander’s Palace on floor 1, Chevre-stuffed Peppadews wrapped with Serrano Ham from Restaurant Cuvee on floor 2 and Cannola from Angelo Brocato’s on floor 3. Now, that’s a well-balanced meal! Not to mention, the drink pyramid of champagne toasts, wine pairings and cordial sips, donated by Republic National Distributing Company.
Recognition goes to 2008 Gala Chairwomen Charlotte Bollinger and Sandra Pulitzer, LCRC Co-Directors Augusto Ochoa, M.D. of Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center and Prescott Deininger, Ph.D. of Tulane Cancer Center and Saks Fifth Avenue New Orleans’ Carolyn Elder, Steven Putt and Catherine Tessier. This year, Gwyneth Paltrow was the Entertainment Industry Foundation ambassador of Key to the Cure and Karl Lagerfeld designed a limited edition T-shirt with sales exclusively benefitting the grand campaign.
2. Carla Adams, Fred Holly and Catherine Tessier
3. Kim Glazer, Dr. Ben Sachs and Charlotte Gottesman
4. Andre’ Duplessis, Barbara Arras, Karen Solomon and Steven Putt
